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Sir Jeffrey Donaldson unaware of Sinn Fein 'legacy deal' Sir Jeffrey Donaldson unaware of Sinn Fein 'legacy deal'
(35 minutes later)
The DUP's Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said he was unaware of an alleged deal between Sinn Féin and the government to release money for legacy inquests. The DUP's justice spokesman was "unaware" of an alleged deal between Sinn Féin and the government to release money for Troubles legacy inquests.
The MP was speaking in response to a claim by Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly that funding had been agreed. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he did not know about the deal after Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly claimed funding was agreed.
Mr Kelly said it was part of the draft agreement being worked on before the latest power-sharing talks collapsed. Mr Kelly also said a legacy deal would have omitted any statute of limitations to curb security force prosecutions.
Northern Ireland's most senior judge has asked for money to deal with a backlog of Troubles-related inquests. The government replied that all its discussions were in the context of how it would respond to an overall deal.
The Troubles legacy negotiations have been a long-running issue, and featured not only on the fringes of the most recent talks which collapsed on Valentine's Day, but also in the lead up to the 2014 Stormont House Agreement.
In 2016, Northern Ireland's most senior judge asked for money to deal with a backlog of Troubles-related inquests.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan requested £10m to fund a five-year programme of investigations into some of the most controversial killings of the Troubles.Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan requested £10m to fund a five-year programme of investigations into some of the most controversial killings of the Troubles.
Mr Kelly told the BBC NI's The View programme that he had proof of his party's agreement with the government and wanted to see it implemented. Mr Kelly told the BBC NI's The View programme that he had proof of his party's agreement with the government to release inquest funding and wanted to see it implemented.
"There are victims and survivors waiting - some of them over 45-46 years - give them some respite," Mr Kelly told The View. "There are victims and survivors waiting - some of them over 45-46 years - give them some respite," Mr Kelly told BBC News NI's The View programme.
"Give the money to the Lord Chief Justice, he has nothing to do with politics, let him get on with that.""Give the money to the Lord Chief Justice, he has nothing to do with politics, let him get on with that."
'Side deals''Side deals'
It has been reported that during the latest round of power-sharing talks, Sinn Féin held separate meetings with the government on legacy inquests, while the DUP held its own negotiations with the government about the Military Covenant.It has been reported that during the latest round of power-sharing talks, Sinn Féin held separate meetings with the government on legacy inquests, while the DUP held its own negotiations with the government about the Military Covenant.
Mr Kelly claimed that during their separate meetings, the government had agreed that a public consultation on the plan to deal with Troubles legacy issues would not include a proposal for a controversial statute of limitations.Mr Kelly claimed that during their separate meetings, the government had agreed that a public consultation on the plan to deal with Troubles legacy issues would not include a proposal for a controversial statute of limitations.
Last year, some Conservative and unionist MPs had called for a statute of limitations to prevent the prosecution of security force members for alleged offences from the early years of the Troubles.Last year, some Conservative and unionist MPs had called for a statute of limitations to prevent the prosecution of security force members for alleged offences from the early years of the Troubles.
The idea has been strongly opposed by Sinn Féin, the Irish government and some victims' groups.The idea has been strongly opposed by Sinn Féin, the Irish government and some victims' groups.
Analysis - BBC political correspondent Gareth GordonAnalysis - BBC political correspondent Gareth Gordon
Claims Sinn Féin and the government agreed a side deal on legacy are not new.Claims Sinn Féin and the government agreed a side deal on legacy are not new.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald revealed some of the detail a week ago, though not Mr Kelly's claim that proposals for a statute of limitations were now to be dropped from the planned consultation.Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald revealed some of the detail a week ago, though not Mr Kelly's claim that proposals for a statute of limitations were now to be dropped from the planned consultation.
What is surprising is the claim from Sir Jeffrey - the DUP's Justice spokesperson - that he knew nothing about it What is surprising is the claim from Sir Jeffrey - the DUP's Justice spokesperson - that he knew nothing about it.
He was adamant no such proposal was put to him and that he would be annoyed if it was correct He was adamant no such proposal was put to him and that he would be annoyed if it was correct.
Mr Kelly said: "To say that the DUP, whatever about Jeffrey, didn't know about this is erroneous."Mr Kelly said: "To say that the DUP, whatever about Jeffrey, didn't know about this is erroneous."
It raises new and intriguing questions about just what went on during this failed negotiation and who agreed what with whom and who knew.It raises new and intriguing questions about just what went on during this failed negotiation and who agreed what with whom and who knew.
The murk just got murkier.The murk just got murkier.
Mr Kelly told The View: "We had agreed the statute of limitations was not going to be in the consultation.Mr Kelly told The View: "We had agreed the statute of limitations was not going to be in the consultation.
"The consultation was going to be put out and the money was going to be released to the Lord Chief Justice - that was agreed.""The consultation was going to be put out and the money was going to be released to the Lord Chief Justice - that was agreed."
In response, Sir Jeffrey said: "I am our party's representative on legacy issues and I am not aware of the government agreeing with Sinn Féin that they were going to hand over money for inquests."In response, Sir Jeffrey said: "I am our party's representative on legacy issues and I am not aware of the government agreeing with Sinn Féin that they were going to hand over money for inquests."
Asked for a response to reports that Sinn Fein had a side deal on the military covenant, the DUP said: "Not surprising both sides will talk to the government about progressing issues of interest to themselves during negotiations. Asked for a response to reports that Sinn Fein had a side deal with the government, the DUP said: "Not surprising both sides will talk to the government about progressing issues of interest to themselves during negotiations.
"We also were speaking to the government about certain matters and progress was made.""We also were speaking to the government about certain matters and progress was made."
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said all discussions with parties were in the context of how the government would respond in the event of a deal.The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said all discussions with parties were in the context of how the government would respond in the event of a deal.
"Sadly there was no deal," said an NIO spokesperson. "However, as the secretary of state made clear on Tuesday, she will still be consulting on how to implement Stormont House [Agreement] legacy institutions as soon as possible.""Sadly there was no deal," said an NIO spokesperson. "However, as the secretary of state made clear on Tuesday, she will still be consulting on how to implement Stormont House [Agreement] legacy institutions as soon as possible."
"The government announced £150m to support legacy reform in 2014."The government announced £150m to support legacy reform in 2014.